Have you ever spent more than you planned to at the grocery store?

Did you answer “Yes”? Me too; especially in the winter, when we’re forking out for fresh fruits and vegetables that certainly aren’t local to Ottawa when we’re knee-deep in snow!

Parenting in Ottawa: New info resources from Ottawa Public Health

This question was just one of many relevant discussions that I found taking place on a Facebook page called Parenting in Ottawa. Ottawa Public Health and its community partners are running the page and experts are brought in to help answer questions on weekly topics.

I know that within my own community of friends on Facebook, we often ask each other advice on parenting. But it’s nice to also get the insight of experts. For the question asked in the title of this post, as example, a dietetic intern and a registered nurse were moderating the discussion and providing feedback and ideas. You can even private message a Public Health Nurse via the Facebook page to have your own specific question posted for response.

In addition to this interactive Facebook page, a new website ParentinginOttawa.com has just been launched. I’ve spent quite a bit of time browsing the site. I particularly liked the videos developed by experts at the Youth Services Bureau on teens and mental health as well as the info on active transportation for kids in Ottawa. No big surprise though, I guess, considering that I have a 12-year-old daughter and a 6-year-old son! But that’s the great thing about this site … it really covers the whole gamut of parenting — from pregnancy all the way to age 18. And you can trust that it’s credible.

Free Parenting Events in Ottawa

On the Parenting in Ottawa website, you can also sign up for their newsletter. In doing so, you can get the “heads up” about upcoming events. For example, the next event is: Bullying: What Can Parents Do?

This event is completely free and experts free and experts from CHEO, the University of Ottawa, four school boards, and the Ottawa Police will be there. Best part? You don’t even need to register, so you don’t have to do any crazy advance planning. Just show if it works for you. March 30th, 6:30 to 9:00 pm.

Disclosure:I hope you found this info helpful! Thank you for continuing to support this blog. This post was sponsored by Ottawa Public Health, and all text and opinions are my own.

this is a great initiative by the City of Ottawa……..now, if they can just come up with a more efficient way for parents to sign their children up for Swimming Lessons….. right? I have a few ideas, by the way!

Yes, super handy if it is in your area. But the actual information resources are not related to geography. For example, the question that kicks off this post applies to anywhere in Canada. Check out the Facebook page and see what you think.

I always spend more than I planned to at the grocery store. It’s pitiful. I love the idea of this expert site and I have many friends in Ottawa so I will connect them with this – especially all the new Moms there who I know from one of the on line groups I community manage. This is so smart really and I like that there are experts available to answer the questions as they come up.

Julie, this is a great initative. Love that Ottawa is providing all these resources. You’re right, it’s great to hear from others on their parenting avice but having the experts is also really important. Thanks so much for letting us know!